About the Project

Illustrating Me exhibition highlights asylum seekers’ personal stories and experiences. In their comics asylum seekers describe the situation in their home countries, their journey to Europe, everyday life in Finland and share us their future dreams. For many of the participants the comics are a first attempt to visually express the turning points of their lives.

Comics were created in comic workshops held during 2016-2017 in reception centers in Helsinki, Kontiolahti and Lieksa. Most of the participants were adults but also some children attended workshops. One of the workshops was held in a meeting of Service Civil International (KVT ry) because many of asylum seekers participate voluntary work camps in Finland. Later in June 2017 an additional workshop was held in the Right to Live demonstration in Helsinki.

Youngest artist was a 5-year old boy from Guinea and oldest a 54-year old man from Iraq. In the workshops 20 percent of the participants were women. The workshop participants came from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Uganda, Republic of Kongo, Burundi, Iran, Gambia, Albania, Cameroon, Russia and Guinea.

Many of the workshop participants didn’t have any background in drawing. However, the new challenge was embraced with enthusiasm. The comics were created with a low treshold method ‘grassroot comics’ which is developed by World Comics (Maailman sarjakuvat ry). The method emphasises the idea that everyone can draw.

During the year 2017 Illustrating Me touring exhibition tours around Finland in two copies.

For the media we can organize a possibility for interviews with the comics drawers.
There is an Information material bank for the media as well.